Information processing apparatus and authentication method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus is provided with the following a body, an input section configured to input authentication information to the body, authentication means for executing first authentication processing by comparing authentication information input from the input section with first registration information stored in the body, means for receiving a result of second authentication processing executed by comparing the authentication information input from the input section with second registration information, a storage device configured to store authentication log information, means for additionally writing authentication failure information in the authentication log information if the first authentication processing fails, and means for adding the authentication failure information to the authentication log information if the receiving means is informed that the second authentication processing fails.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising: 
 a body;    an input section configured to input authentication information to the body;    an authentication processing section configured to execute first authentication processing by comparing authentication information input from the input section with first registration information stored in the body;    an authentication result receiving section configured to receive a result of second authentication processing executed by comparing the authentication information input from the input section with second registration information;    a storage device configured to store authentication log information;    a first authentication processing failure information-writing section configured to additionally write authentication failure information in the authentication log information if the first authentication processing fails; and    a second authentication processing failure information-writing section configured to write the authentication failure information in the authentication log information if the authentication result receiving section is informed that the second authentication processing fails.    
   
   
       2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the authentication failure information includes information on at least one of: a time of authentication, an authentication method, and authentication data input from the input section.  
   
   
       3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a count section configured to count the number of times of failure registered in the authentication information;    a determination section configured to determine whether the number of times of failure is greater than a predetermined number of times; and    an output section configured to output a message when the number of times of failure is greater than the predetermined number of times.    
   
   
       4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first determination section configured to determine whether or not the authentication failure information is included in the authentication log information;    a second determination section configured to determine whether the authentication log information should be transmitted to a server if the authentication failure information is included in the authentication log information; and    a transmitting section configured to transmit the authentication log information to the server when the second determination section determines that the authentication log information should be transmitted to the server.    
   
   
       5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a processing execution section configured to execute processing corresponding to an instruction sent from the server after the authentication log information is transmitted to the server.    
   
   
       6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the authentication log information is encrypted.  
   
   
       7 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage device is protected by a system.  
   
   
       8 . An authentication processing method for use in an information processing apparatus comprising (i) a first a authentication processing section configured to execute first authentication processing by comparing input authentication information with registered first registration information and (ii) a second authentication result receiving section configured to receive a result of second authentication processing executed by comparing input second authentication information with second registration information, the method comprising: 
 executing one of the first authentication processing and the second authentication processing; and    additionally writing authentication failure information in authentication log information if one of the first authentication processing and the second authentication processing fails.    
   
   
       9 . The authentication method according to  claim 8 , wherein the authentication information includes information on at least one of: a time of authentication, an authentication method, and authentication data input by a user.  
   
   
       10 . The authentication method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 counting the number of times of failure registered in the authentication information;    determining whether the number of times of failure is greater than a predetermined number of times; and    outputting a message when the number of times of failure is greater than the predetermined number of times.    
   
   
       11 . The authentication method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 determining whether or not the authentication failure information is included in the authentication log information;    determining whether the authentication log information should be transmitted to a server if the authentication failure information is included in the authentication log information; and    transmitting the authentication log information to the server when it is determined that the authentication log information should be transmitted to the server.    
   
   
       12 . The authentication method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 executing processing corresponding to an instruction sent from the server after the authentication log information is transmitted to the server.